James Millikin Trust A - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $794,738
• Success Rate: Not applicable (does not accept unsolicited applications)
• Decision Time: Determined by trustee discretion
• Grant Range: $3,000 - $260,000
• Average/Median Grant: $10,000
• Total Assets: $16.9 million
• Number of Annual Grants: 13
• Geographic Focus: Decatur, Illinois (city limits)
• Established: 1910

Contact Details

Address: 132 S Water Street, Suite 610, Decatur, IL 62523-1066

Phone: (217) 428-0948

Contact Person: Chris Siudyla, Attorney Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson & Walsh, Ltd.

EIN: 37-0661226

Website: No public website

Application Policy: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The James Millikin Trust A was established in 1910 following the death of James Millikin (1827-1909), a prominent Decatur businessman, banker, and philanthropist who founded Millikin University in 1901. The trust continues the philanthropic legacy of James and Anna Millikin, focusing exclusively on charitable and educational organizations within the City of Decatur, Illinois. Since its establishment, the trust has distributed more than $24 million to local institutions over 96+ years of operation. With current assets of $16.9 million, the trust distributes approximately $795,000 annually through 13 grants, with awards ranging from $3,000 to $260,000. The trust is administered by trustees through the law firm Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson & Walsh, Ltd., which exercises discretion in selecting grant recipients who align with James Millikin's vision of supporting education and community welfare in Decatur.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with no formal application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations that serve educational and charitable purposes within Decatur city limits.

Grant Amounts: $3,000 - $260,000 (median: $10,000)

Application Method: No public application process; awards made by trustee discretion

Priority Areas

The trust demonstrates clear funding priorities based on recent grant distributions:

Higher Education: The largest category of support, with Millikin University historically receiving substantial funding. The 2023 grant to Millikin University was $260,000, representing the trust's largest single award.

Healthcare: Significant support for community health services, as evidenced by the $150,000 grant to Crossing Healthcare in 2023.

K-12 Education: Strong commitment to public education, with the Decatur School District receiving $115,000 in 2023.

Community College Education: Support for workforce development and continuing education through grants such as the $115,000 award to Richland Community College in 2023.

Youth Development and Recreation: Support for organizations like the Decatur YMCA ($72,000 in 2023) and Decatur Community Tennis Foundation ($10,000 in 2023).

Social Services: Funding for organizations addressing food insecurity and community needs, such as the Good Samaritan Inn.

Community Infrastructure: Support for organizations like United Way of Macon County ($25,000 in 2023) that provide coordinated community services.

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

• Millikin University: $260,000
• Crossing Healthcare: $150,000
• Decatur School District: $115,000
• Richland Community College: $115,000
• Decatur YMCA: $72,000
• United Way of Macon County: $25,000
• Decatur Community Tennis Foundation: $10,000
• Good Samaritan Inn: amount not disclosed

Geographic Restrictions

Strict: The trust serves educational and charitable organizations located within the City of Decatur, Illinois only. Organizations outside Decatur city limits are not eligible.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the trust's focus appears limited to:

• Organizations outside Decatur city limits
• For-profit entities
• Individual scholarships or grants to individuals
• Political organizations or campaigns

Governance and Leadership

Legal Administration

The trust is administered through Erickson, Davis, Murphy, Johnson & Walsh, Ltd., a Decatur law firm with over 50 years of experience in estate and trust administration.

Office Location: 132 S Water Street, Suite 610, Decatur, IL 62523

Key Contact

Chris Siudyla, Attorney

• Joined Erickson Davis firm in 2007
• J.D. from Northern Illinois University, 2007 (cum laude)
• Practice areas include business planning, probate and estate planning, estate litigation, and civil litigation
• Represents local governmental bodies
• Admitted to practice in Illinois, Colorado, and Federal District Court for Central District of Illinois
• Recognized as Outstanding Professional Partner by The Community Foundation of Macon County (2019)

Trustees

According to foundation records, the trustees are:

• Edward Elliott
• Troy Swinford
• David Weber

The trustees exercise discretion in selecting grant recipients based on the trust's charitable and educational purposes established by James Millikin.

Historical Context

James Millikin (1827-1909) was a self-made businessman who began as a cattle driver in the 1850s and became a wealthy livestock broker and landowner. He entered banking in 1860 and built the largest banking institution in Illinois outside of Chicago. While attending Washington College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in Pennsylvania, Millikin vowed that if he made his fortune, he would found an institution where all who sought an education could receive one suited to any occupation. He fulfilled this promise by founding Millikin University in 1901, which was officially dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903.

Anna B. Millikin, James's wife, was a cultural leader who co-founded the Decatur Art Class (1880) and the Municipal Art League. Together, the couple established the Anna B. Millikin Home for Women and Orphans (1891), Millikin University, Millikin Bank, and the Millikin Estate Trust.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. The James Millikin Trust A does not accept unsolicited applications. Grant awards are made at the sole discretion of the trustees, who proactively identify and select organizations that align with the trust's charitable and educational purposes within Decatur, Illinois.

Organizations interested in the trust's support cannot submit formal applications or proposals. Instead, grants appear to be awarded based on:

• Trustee awareness of community needs
• Historical relationships with established Decatur institutions
• The organization's alignment with James Millikin's founding vision
• The organization's impact on education and community welfare in Decatur

Getting on Their Radar

Since the James Millikin Trust A operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, organizations seeking support should focus on:

Build Institutional Credibility: Establish your organization as a respected, effective institution serving Decatur. The trust's recent grantees are well-established organizations with strong community presence (Millikin University, Decatur School District, Crossing Healthcare, Decatur YMCA).

Connect with the Decatur Philanthropic Community: The trust's contact, Chris Siudyla, was recognized by The Community Foundation of Macon County, suggesting connections within the local philanthropic network. Engage with organizations like the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and other Decatur funders to increase visibility.

Demonstrate Educational or Charitable Impact: The trust prioritizes organizations with clear educational missions or charitable purposes that directly serve Decatur residents. Document and communicate your impact on the community.

Consider Long-term Relationship Building: Many of the trust's beneficiaries appear to receive consistent support over time, particularly Millikin University. This suggests the trust values sustained relationships with proven organizations rather than one-time grants to new organizations.

Align with James Millikin's Vision: Understanding the founder's commitment to accessible education and community welfare may help organizations position themselves appropriately. Millikin believed in "practical" learning alongside classical education and wanted to support those seeking to improve their circumstances.

Note: Given the trust's administration through a law firm and the absence of public application procedures, direct outreach is unlikely to be productive. Instead, focus on building organizational excellence, community visibility, and connections within Decatur's established institutional network.

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees. There are no published decision timelines, board meeting schedules, or notification procedures. Based on the trust's annual distribution of approximately 13 grants per year, decisions likely occur periodically throughout the year as trustees identify community needs and opportunities.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The trust does not accept applications, so there is no success rate metric available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations cannot apply or reapply to this trust.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analyzing the trust's grantmaking patterns reveals the following characteristics of funded organizations:

Established Community Institutions: All documented grant recipients are well-established organizations with long histories in Decatur. New or startup organizations do not appear in recent grant lists.

Educational Focus: The largest grants consistently go to educational institutions (Millikin University, Decatur School District, Richland Community College), reflecting James Millikin's founding priority.

Direct Community Service: Recipients provide tangible services to Decatur residents—healthcare (Crossing Healthcare), youth development (YMCA), meals (Good Samaritan Inn), recreation (Tennis Foundation), and coordinated services (United Way).

Geographic Specificity: Every grant recipient is located within and serves the City of Decatur, Illinois. This geographic restriction is absolute.

Institutional Capacity: Recipients are substantial organizations capable of managing significant grants (ranging from $3,000 to $260,000) and demonstrating accountability.

Alignment with Founder's Values: Recipients reflect James Millikin's priorities: accessible education, practical learning, youth development, and community welfare. His vision emphasized giving all people opportunities to improve their circumstances through education and support.

Longstanding Presence: The trust appears to favor organizations with proven track records and sustained community impact rather than innovative new programs or emerging organizations.

Broad Community Benefit: Recipients serve wide segments of the Decatur community rather than narrow constituencies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Application Process: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications or proposals. Organizations cannot directly seek funding through traditional grant application methods.

• Trustee Discretion Governs All Decisions: The trustees of the James Millikin Trust A exercise complete discretion in selecting grant recipients. Decisions are made proactively by trustees rather than in response to applications.

• Geographic Limitation is Absolute: Only organizations located within the City of Decatur, Illinois are eligible. This is a strict requirement with no exceptions.

• Education is the Primary Priority: The largest grants consistently support educational institutions, from K-12 through higher education, reflecting founder James Millikin's lifelong commitment to accessible education.

• Established Institutions Receive Support: Recent grant recipients are well-established, recognized organizations with proven track records in the Decatur community. Newer organizations or startups do not appear in grant lists.

• Grant Amounts Vary Significantly: While the median grant is $10,000, awards range from $3,000 to $260,000, suggesting trustees calibrate support based on institutional size, project scope, and community impact.

• Focus on Building Organizational Excellence: Rather than pursuing this trust directly, organizations should concentrate on building institutional credibility, demonstrating measurable community impact, and establishing relationships within Decatur's philanthropic network, which may increase visibility to trustees over time.

References

1. Grantmakers.io - James Millikin Trust A Profile. EIN 37-0661226. Accessed February 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/370661226-james-millikin-trust-a/

2. GrantExec - James Millikin Trust A Foundation Profile. Accessed February 2026. https://grantexec.com/foundations/370661226

3. Foundation Directory (Candid) - James Millikin Trust a Profile. MILL014. Accessed February 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=MILL014

4. Herald-Review. "For 96 years, James Millikin's gift keeps on giving." Decatur Herald-Review. Accessed February 2026. https://herald-review.com/news/local/for-years-james-millikin-s-gift-keeps-on-giving/article_c3b3be5e-84e8-5820-90cf-4a7e41a47268.html

5. Millikin University. "Millikin History." University Archives, Staley Library. Accessed February 2026. https://millikin.edu/academics/staley-library/university-archives/millikin-history

6. Wikipedia. "James Millikin." Accessed February 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millikin,_James

7. Erickson Davis Law. "About Chris Siudyla." Accessed February 2026. https://www.ericksondavislaw.com/attorneys/chris-siudyla

8. Decatur Bar Association. "Profile Page of Siudyla, Chris." Accessed February 2026. https://decaturbar.org/profile/siudyla-chris/

9. The Good Samaritan Inn. Official website. Accessed February 2026. https://www.goodsamaritaninn.org/

10. CauseIQ. "Good Samaritan Inn - Decatur, IL." Nonprofit profile. Accessed February 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/good-samaritan-inn,371121504/